keeping cats cool in hot weather

wndrkn

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Hi everyone,

I have two long-haired fluffy kitties and the current heatwave is murder on me, so I know they are uncomfortable. I have no AC unfortunately but I'm keeping their water bowls full and clean. I'm also trying to keep my apartment as cool as I can and just let them find cool spots to flop down on.

Any other suggestions? They don't seem to be getting sick from the weather since I'm watching them closely but I worry!

Wendy
 

donna

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Wendy,

There are a couple of things you can do. I put ice cubes in their water bowls. I also will close all the windows and blinds to keep out as much sunlight as possible. I have a couple of box fans to keep the air circulating.

Cats are pretty weird when it's hot like this. They will usually try and find the coolest spot in the house and just lay there (under a bed, in a closet, on the bathroom or kiten floors, etc.) Their appetites are also alot lower when it's hot.

Do the best you can with what you've got. Hopefully this heatwave will break soon (UGH!!) I'm lucky. I have air conditioning. I feel for you though.

Donna
 

dawnt91

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Wow, I forget that people actually have to live without airconditioning! Here in Texas it's pretty much a necessity. I don't have any hints for you, but I wanted to let you know that I feel for you and your cats. You must e miserable.
 

sunlion

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Do you have a basement? It might be cooler down there.

Also, what about laying out a damp towel or two? The moisture should be slightly cooling for them. Blackie, who goes outside in TX by choice (go figure, I'd be dying in all that black fur), likes to lay in the mud caused by the runoff from the laundry room and the pool. A moist towel should have the same effect indoors.

I suppose if it's really hot you could put them in their carrier and take them to a mall or even one of those pet stores you can bring your pet to. Or the airport, or a movie, or . . .
 
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wndrkn

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Hi everybody,

Thanks for all the advice. I've put icecubes in their water and I took another friend's suggestion of freezing the little bottles you put in ice chests and coolers (what's the general term for those things that you can freeze and refreeze?) and put them in a towel. Pumpkin looked at it funny at first but then I found her lying with her face on the "cool spot" on the towel. Since I live on the top floor of the apartment building, I don't have a basement, per se. But I did let one cat run around in the backstairs that I share with the downstairs neighbor. It was much cooler down there. Thanks, sunlion, for giving me that idea. Of course, now I'm going to hear her crying at the back door even more now (why are closed doors such an affront to kitties?)

It was absolutely brutal today and I had to escape myself. I went to the movies (picked the longest running film). I grew up in Georgia -- although we had AC -- so I'm no stranger to heat. And when it gets hot and humid in CT, it usually lasts a day or so -- not five days! Thanks for all your words of support and keep your fingers crossed that the heatwave will break.

Wendy

PS: I'm also catsitting for a friend and have been running over to her place to make sure she's ok. Another little being to worry about in this hot weather.
 

bastetca

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I don't have air conditioning either. and Dius won't drink ice cold water so what I do is dampen a hand towel and throw it in the freezer for about ten minutes, then I take it out and crumple it up so it's not stiff and I place it in Dius' bed. Or I'll use a face cloth instead and pet him with it. It seems to cool him off and he seems to like it.
 
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